Dominikánský klášter v Chebu Monastery

Dominikánský klášter v Chebu with the church of St. Wenceslas is one of the oldest monasteries in the city. This house of the order of brothers of preachers (Dominicans) was founded at the end of the 13th century and its oldest part, namely the monastery church of St. Wenceslas, dates from 1294- 1296.

The history of this complex is linked to the dramatic events of Central Europe. During the Thirty Years' War, the monastery and the church were severely damaged and gradually decayed. In 1642 part of the monastery building collapsed.

The recovery came with significant delay. In the early 1970s, city officials initiated a public collection to repair the church. The decisive turn came in 1673, when Emperor Leopold I himself generously decided to contribute to the restoration of the monastery. On 30 August the following year, the cornerstone of the new Dominican church was laid. The architect Abraham Leutner became the builder. The construction progressed systematically - a complete temple including the restoration of monastery buildings was decorated in the period 1674- 1688. In 1689 the temple was solo consecrated by Bishop Albrecht of the Earl of Wartenberg.

During the reconstruction of the monastery there was a significant reconstruction of its spatial layout. The original entrance to the church was located on the west side of the Dominican Street, which connects the Janská Square with the Stone Street. The new monastery was reoriented - the entrance was now opened on the east side of Kamenná Street, where the monastery originally had a priesthood. Above the decorative portal to which the double-sided staircase leads, the embossed relief of the imperial eagle - a permanent thank you for Leopold's generous support.

The restoration of the monastery buildings began at the same time as the building of the church. The construction was entrusted to builder Andreas Burgler. The solution to the property issues required the purchase and demolition of several neighboring houses on Kamenná Street, which greatly delayed the process. The last parts of the monastery buildings, including a large refectory intended to feed brothers, were completed only in 1720. During the wars of Austrian heritage and later Napoleonic wars, the refectory served as a military Lazaret.

The monastery was an important cultural and scientific centre - it had a comprehensive library and archive. Following the abolition of the Dominican Convention in 1936, these valuable collections were transferred to the Dominican monastery in Pilsen, where they later formed the core of the Study and Scientific Library of the Pilsen Region.